We live in a new era of engagement that is redefining how we make change in the world, with implications for NGO practitioners and funders alike. Harvard sociologist Theda Skocpol documented[i] a similar transition in the late 1960s, as large membership organizations (like the once widespread men’s and women’s service clubs) were eclipsed by groups…
Strategy: Communications
Community engagement and development offer youth the opportunity to communicate their desires and have their voices heard. But young Canadians do not participate in community life, for example, political elections, political campaigns, or interest groups, in the same capacity as older Canadians. They are less interested in and have less knowledge of politics (O’Neill, 2007),…
Introduction When I saw the call for papers for this special edition “Young People and the Future of Philanthropy,” I jumped at the opportunity to contribute to this important dialogue. As a worker, employer, and volunteer in the nonprofit sector, I am acutely aware that young people have many choices about how to direct their…
Introduction Research commissioned by The Muttart Foundation indicates that Canadians have high expectations regarding the transparency of charities. For example, in three surveys conducted between 2004 and 2008, between 95% and 99% of Canadians said it was either very important or somewhat important for charities to provide information on their impact, programs and services, how…
I hate dinner parties. Actually I hate a certain moment during dinner parties—that moment when two people who have just met reach that inevitable point in conversation where the question comes up: “So what is it that you do?” “I work for a nonprofit,” I respond—with audible reluctance. In my mind, I am preparing myself…
Imagine Canada, which was founded in 2005, is a national bilingual charitable organization that supports and strengthens charities and nonprofits so they can, in turn, support the Canadians and communities they serve. Over the last two years, as part of an initiative entitled “A National Engagement Strategy,” we have had the privilege of facilitating a…
Point : Bob Wyatt I am frankly well beyond frustrated by the media coverage of Canada’s voluntary sector. Or perhaps it might be more appropriate to call it non-coverage. Oh, sure, there are the “fluff ” stories—so-called human interest stories, usually featuring children or small animals. And there are, of course, the so-called scandal stories—somebody…
This special issue is a collaboration between The Philanthropist and Imagine Canada. As part of its National Engagement Strategy, over 500 established and emerging leaders will come together from across the country and across the sector to be part of the National Summit for the Charitable and Nonprofit Sector in Ottawa, November 28–30, 2011. The…
First, let us define the term “digital diaspora” for context. We use “diaspora” here as a catchall to describe people who have arrived in Canada from other countries (and, aside from Native Canadians, that is just about everyone), usually fragile nations. Most often these people are or were refugees seeking political asylum or arrived through…
Nearly every registered nonprofit organization is heavily immersed in figuring out how to use or harness social media to strengthen and promote itself and its work. In the frenzy to latch onto these new forms of communication and linkage, and given the pace at which these new media are developing, organizations may not be conscious…